AFP Member Spotlight: Erin Arnett

AFP Member Spotlights are a recurring series of interviews with AFP members, highlighting the unique individuals and career paths that exist within the fundraising profession. If you know an inspiring fundraising professional who deserves to be featured, please email afpmarcom@afpglobal.org. 

In this member spotlight, we interviewed Erin Arnett, donor relations coordinator at Festa. She shared with us how her organization transformed their fundraising event by highlighting the cultural traditions of the people they serve and putting the focus on community-building and togetherness.

Q: Can you start off by telling us a little bit about who you are and what you do? 
A: My name is Erin Arnett, and I am the donor relations coordinator at Festa, a nonprofit started in Central Ohio, which serves families facing suburban poverty through Free Summer Lunch Camp and 3-Generation Family English as a Second Language Programming. We provide ESL Education and wrap around support for the entire family so that all new American children and their families—immigrants, refugees, political asylees and migrants—can have the education they need to thrive, so our communities and workplaces thrive. Festa Feeds, Educates, Serves, Trains and Advocates so that poverty is alleviated through life-changing relationships with neighbors.

I chose the job title, donor relations coordinator, because it had the word “relationship” in it. Genuine and authentic relationship building between partners, funders, volunteers, and families is what drives my work and brings me the most satisfaction in my role. I have always enjoyed helping people align their passion with their actions and in my development role that is no different. Building relationships with donors allows me the great privilege of learning what they care about and helping to facilitate actionable next steps for a rewarding impact.

Q: How did you start your career in the fundraising profession and what led you there?
A: Like most people, happenstance. I was a volunteer with the nonprofit for many years, until the executive director asked if I would consider working for the organization. I was teaching at the time, so I said I could work part-time and help fill the need. Within 6 months I was working full-time and had transitioned into the development staff. Interestingly enough, my personal relationship with money and finances had been tricky. I often associated the word “money” with “guilt” and that lead to a rather unhealthy relationship and a desire to be closed fisted with my financial generosity. As I transitioned into this role, I was blessed with the unexpected gift of seeing philanthropy and, quite frankly, money through a fresh lens. I have felt, firsthand, the freedom and joy that being generous can have on my own life and I want to share that gift with others.

Q: When and why did you decide to become an AFP member?
A: Fundraising wasn’t something that I went to school for. I went to school for social work and ended up with a communications degree, so when I decided it was time to re-enter the workforce after staying home with my children for nearly 15 years, I was eager to learn anything and everything that I could.

I attended one of the education sessions through the AFP Central Ohio Chapter. I went into it with an open mind, and an open heart, hoping to learn and build relationships. It was there that I met Bill Bartolini, who immediately welcomed me and asked me questions about my organization and shared some scholarship opportunities with me. So it was really through Bill that I began to get more involved with AFP.

Q: How has being an AFP member and participating in the AFP affinity groups benefited you in your career?
A: Networking, which I mentioned, but also as a mom of 4 that stayed home for 15 years with my children, I was nervous to enter back into the workforce. The affinity groups allowed me the chance to surround myself with like-minded professionals that welcomed me into the profession and shared both experience and expertise about what has worked and even more valuable, what has NOT worked for them. They eased my concerns about being “out of the game” for so long and helped fuel my love of learning in this new profession.

Q: Are you doing anything innovative at your organization (or a past organization) that you think other fundraisers could benefit from?
A: I like to think organically and creatively about how we can do fundraising events differently. I work for an organization that serves people facing poverty, so for me, there was just something out of alignment in us doing a gala event. As an organization we have a core value of bringing people across lines of difference together. We wanted at fundraising event that brought people together across ethnic, economic, racial, and religious lines to celebrate and engage with one another.

Our team at Festa sat down and brainstormed, what are we already doing that people are engaged with? What can we do that will bring the families we serve and our donors together, in one place, learning about each other in a way that feels authentic and encouraging.

In response, we created the International Festa-val where people from the community and our programs come together. We had a global tasting room where families prepared dishes from their country, a cultural fashion show, an international art gallery, community art project, a sponsored job fair with businesses that were interested in hiring immigrants and a main stage complete with a variety of talented performers sharing a piece of their heritage through dance, music, and poetry. We were incredibly proud to have a unique fundraiser that broke down barriers and celebrated diversity all while serving the purpose of fueling our mission through financial engagement.

Q: What is your favorite word? (only one word) How has this word influenced or inspired your career?
A: “Authentic”. As a fundraiser, we can learn best practices, and that is important, but if I sit down in a meeting as anyone other than myself, donors will see right through it. Bringing your authentic self to meetings and engagement opportunities allows potential and current donors to also show up as their authentic self and promotes genuine relationship building and increased opportunity to see their true passions and mission focus. Whether you’re the CFO of a company or someone who is donating $10 through an online platform from your college dorm, I want to treat you in the same respectful manner and encourage your growth as a philanthropist. Building relationships in an authentic manner has been the most enriching experience of my professional life.

Q: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: It is my professional goal to make sure that our donor database reflects the people we serve—immigrants and refugees, 72% of which are women. That said, I am working to increase our representation of women, and immigrants in our database. Data shows that immigrants and refugees will make up more than 50% of our population growth in the next 5 years. Research proves that immigrants are more likely to be business owners and entrepreneurs. It would be a failure on my part, not to be engaging this population and celebrating their ability to be philanthropic.

What I am most proud of is that our largest donation to date has come from an immigrant woman. I met her at an event and knew that our mission would align with her values and philanthropic focus. I spent a year getting to know her and seeing where her heart was. I’m very proud to have been on that journey with her that resulted in an impactful donation.

Q: What advice do you have for other fundraising professionals, or people interested in getting into the field?
A: To go back to my word of choice, being authentic is probably the best advice I can give. It’s good to know who you are going to meet with and educate yourself on their work and if possible, their interests, but we really are all just people. We have personal lives at home and passions outside of work. Don’t undervalue the impact that getting to know someone outside of their professional career. The other valuable advice I received and believe in is engaging with your peers and colleagues in a meaningful way. Volunteer when you can, attend the trainings, network at events. Be present in this profession to have a sustained career that brings you fulfillment.